Technical Annex to the MLA TRACECA “On the International Customs Transit Procedures in the Corridor Europe-the Caucasus-Asia for the Carriage of Goods by Rail Using the “SMGS” Railway Bill” came into effect

The Protocol came into effect in respect of four Parties to the MLA TRACECA which signed and ratified it – Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Romania and Georgia.

This Protocol was signed but not yet ratified by Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Ukraine. The Protocol was not signed by Iran.

In addition to enforcement of a new Technical Annex to the MLA TRACECA the Protocol provides for the following amendments to the MLA TRACECA:

•    For 3 years when the given amendment comes into force, the Parties have to ensure free issue of single/double entry visas for persons transporting and/or accompanying humanitarian goods and reconstruction materials transported to Afghanistan via the “TRACECA” international transport corridor Europe-the Caucasus-Asia”;

•    The Parties will not apply customs deposits, bank guarantees, financial risk insurance policies, railway guarantees for transit of goods by railway transport;

•    The Parties will apply VAT zero-rate on railway transport services on international and transit railway connection, including transportation, forwarding, loading/unloading and storage services.    


Full text of the Technical Annex find here